Method of producing pronged washers



J. R. RICHER METHOD 0F PRODUCING 'PRONGED WASHERS Filed 061. 29. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l z5& ma/1e;

Feb. 14, 1928.

Feb. 14, 1928.

\ 1,659,161 I -J. R. RICHER METHOD OF PRODUCING PRONGED WASHERS Filed Oct. 29. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 u who T that entire.

JUSFPH R. RTCHEB, F GHICAGU, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MJESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

SHAKEIPRGOF LUCK WASHER, INCORPORATED, 0F CHIGAGQ, ILLINOIS, A CORPO- RATIUN @F DELAWARE.

METHOD OF FRODUGTNG PRONGED Application filed October 29, 19%. Serial No. 'Z ififiiti.

This invention relates to methods of manufacturing lock washers having radial teeth or prongs. The washer is rendered efiective by warping or twisting the prongs as shown in Patent No. 1, 59,564 granted June 13,

1922 to Richard T. Hosking of Saginaw,

Michigan. The method heretofore employed to manufacturethese washers is to punch them from strips of sheet steel of the proper width for one washer, using a punch press having a progressive die with stations for each separate operation, thus finishing one complete washer only for each stroke of the press. This method is very slow compared w to mine and also very wasteful of material,

the waste often running as high as 80%.

The object of my invention is to reduce the time and cost of production and to reduce the amount of material wasted.

a T have found that look washers of this type have practically the same locking qualities, whether the prongs are external or internal, and I obtain my objects in the manner illustrated in the acccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a stripwith the successive punchings shown therein according to one possible sequence.

Figures 2, 3, 4:, 5, and 6 show the punchings or washers removed from the successive holes in the strip Figure 1.

Figure 7 shows four washers assembled in the manner in which they lie in the original strip.

Figure 8 is a face view of an internal prong washer showing the prongs warped or twisted for locking purposes.

Figure 9 is a sectional view on 9-9 Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a face view of an external prong washer showing the prongs warped or twisted for locking purposes.

Figure 11 is a sectional view .on the line ill-11.

the line out the several views.

According to my method I so punch the strip that the prongs of two companion washers shall be complemental, the external an prongs of one washer forming the spaces between the prongs of the companion washer formed from the material surrounding the first washer.

Feferring to the drawings, ll take a worlr Like numerals denote like parts throughprongs.

strip 1 and punch in it a circular hole 2 which will produce a slug3 shown in Figure 2. 1 next punch a. concentric serrated hole 4 which produces a washer 5 having external prongs 6. These prongs are warpeol or twisted in the direction to look a nut when it tends to unscrew as shown in Figures 10 and 11.. I also punch, concentrically with the first two, a circular hole 7 Tts diameter is somewhat greater than the diameter of the point of the prongs 6 of washer 5, and the result is that there is produced a washer 8 having internal prongs 10. These are formed from the material originally lying between the prongs of Washer 5. These teeth 10 are warped or twisted in the direction to look a nut when it tends to unscrew as shown in Figures 8 and 9. 1 next punch a still larger hole 12 concentric with the previous hole. The line of cleavage is serrated as before, thus producing a washer 14 having radial teeth or prongs 16 as shown in Figure 5. A hole 18 is then punched which is somewhat larger in diameter than the points of the prongs of washer 14, and this produces a washer'20 having internal prongs 22, as shown in Figure 6. This proc ess may be carried on indefinitely, the last circular hole being practically, as great in diameter as the width of the strip. The teeth of all of the washers are warped in the manner shown in Figures 8 and 10.

As a result of this method the waste is reduced to a minimum as will be evident by referring to Figure 7, which shows all of the washers reassembled and illustrates that there is no waste except the material removed from the center of the smallest washer and the material surrounding the external circle of the largest washer.

While the foregoing method may be carried out by difierent means, for example, by compound dies, ll prefer to use a die of the progressive type. By preference the punches and dies are made with inserted members for the parts that make the prongs in the washers, said members being ground obliquely on the ends to give the desired twist to said This part of the operation may be done, however, by separate forming-punches if desired.

In operating a press on the progressive die principle a coil of strip steel is mounted on. a reel which is free to rotate as the feed of tit] ice

,hole produces the washer the press takes it and feeds it to the die and punches. The first punch produces the hole 2 which becomes the hole in the Washer 5 shown in Figure 3. This operation removes the slug 3.

On the reverse stroke of the press, and after the punch has cleared the stock, the feed operates and moves the strip forward a suiiicient amount to allow the hole 2 just punched to register with the second station of the progressive die, the punch being provided with a pilot to fit the hole 2 to guide the strip While the hole 4 is being made. The stock removed by the making of this 5. This process is repeated and on the fifth stroke of the press the largest Washer 20 is produced. Thus when the machine is normally operating each successive stroke will produce four sizes of Washers.

If desired a progressive punch and die may be produced Which Will commence by making the larger holes and make the holes successively smaller, but it is preferable ordinarily to make the smallest hole first.

Having thus described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The method of producing two dfi'erent types of Washers from the same stock strip, comprising punching three concentric openings in the strip, the smaller having a circular periphery, the intermediate having a serrated periphery forming a series of regular prongs and the largest having a circular periphery, thus cutting out blanks, one having external, and the other having complemental internal rengs.

2. The method of producing two different types of Washers from the same stock strip, one having external and the other internal prongs, comprising punching a hole in the strip, stamping out a blank concentric with said hole and having a serrated edge forming regular prongs around its periphery and twisting said external prongs thus formed out of the plane of the blank, stamping out a second concentric blank with a circular pcriphery and twisting the internal prongs thus formed out of the plane of the blank.

The method of producing two (liit'crent types of Washers from the same stock. strip, comprising punching a holes in the said strip, stamping out a blank concentric With sa'd hole and having a serrated edge form- "ng regular prongs around its periphery and simultaneously twisting said external prongs thus formed out of the plane of the blank, twisting the teeth left in the Work strip by the above operations, out of the plane of "the strip and stamping out a second concentric blank with a circular periphery, thus cutting out washers, one having external and the other having compleinental internal prongs.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JUSEPH a. aroma. 

